Iowa guide to presidential politics for Monday, Nov. 7, 2011.

Mitt Romney, like a flat stone skipping across the surface without taking the plunge, makes another one of his sporadic visits to Iowa today. It’s his fourth visit to the Hawkeye State this year – and it has been 18 days since his last trip here. Romney will be long gone before evangelical conservatives gather for another big multi-candidate forum next Saturday night.

It’s 57 days until the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.

The Register Recap

THREE GETS FOR SANTORUM

Three Iowans who are well-known in conservative circles have locked in with Rick Santorum:

One candidate is in Iowa today: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Following his m.o., his campaign stops centers on Iowa businesses and fiscal policy. Workers at Giese Manufacturing in Dubuque cut a steel Iowa logo (photo above) for Romney’s 12:30 p.m. campaign stop at the plant today.

DEMOCRATS ON ROMNEY’S HEELS

The Iowa Democratic Party have tapped two state legislators to be the anti-Romney voices of the day: Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, and Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport. The Democrats’ argument: “… last week he said ‘I’m proposing no tax cuts for the rich’ two days before proposing an economic plan that places a greater burden on the middle class and the elderly by continuing to offer special breaks for large corporations, millionaires and billionaires.”

Politico: Early-staters in no hurry to endorse. “A look around the members of Congress from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina shows an indecisive — or even indifferent — bunch of lawmakers …” Taking the delicate road and not endorsing anyone this cycle: Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Rep. Tom Latham. Moving cautiously: U.S. Rep. Steve King, who said: “If I endorse somebody, and they immediately tank, that hurts me politically in my reelect race.”

National Review: Cain Train On Track in Iowa. At Cain’s Iowa headquarters “there are two posters that offer specific injunctions for Cain campaigners. The first, titled “Mature Leadership and Common Sense Guiding Principles,” lists twelve campaign axioms, among them “1. Do what’s right,” “4. Success is your choice,” and “11. When Congress feels the heat, they will see the light.” The second poster, headlined “Cainisms,” includes these injunctions: “Work on the right problem,” and “Communicate, communicate, communicate.” The final two “Cainisms” might best explain the campaign’s calm, cool attitude this week. “No whining” is one, and the other is: “Have fun.”